Casket-carrier



No. 626,432. f Patented June s, |899.

A. KIRCHER.

GASKET GARRIER.

(Application led Sept. 1, 189B.)

(No Model.)

UNinD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW KIRCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GASKET-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,432, dated June 6,1899.

Application iiled September l, 1898. Serial No. 690,036. (No model.)

To (LZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW KIRCHER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Casket-Carriers; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being hadto theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved device in the nature of adetachable carrier or hand grip for use upon coiiins or burialcaskets.

The invention consists in the'matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of acasket provided with a carrying device constructed in accordance with myinvention, said figure illustrating the manner in which the device isused. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section through the lower corner of acasket, illustrating the handle or grip and means for connecting it withthe casket. Fig. 34 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the metalsocket forming a part of the fastening device with the handgrip removedtherefrom. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line it 4 of Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a view of the handle or hand-grip when removed from the holdingdevice.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates the burial-casket as a whole, andB B two carriers or hand-grips which are detachably secured thereto andintended to aid in the lifting or handling of the casket.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, A' indicates the bottom of the casket, and A2one of the side walls thereof. Within said bottom wall is inserted ametal socket or thimble O, which, together with a pin D' on thehand-grip B, constitutes a means for detachably securing the hand-gripto the casket. The socket O is shown as consisting of la cylindrichollow piece of metal closed at its upper end and open at its lower end,the same being inserted Y or driven in a hole or opening which is boredor otherwise formed in the casket-wall. The said socket being closed atits upper end the hole may be bored entirely through the wall of thecasket, as shown, the end wall of the socket serving to close the holeor opening thus made after the socket has been inserted thereiin Thesocket is made flush with the lower surface of the casket, so that itcannot be seen from the side of the same, and leaves the bottom of thecasket entirely smooth.

For the purpose of detachably connecting the hand-grip B with thecasket, so that the pin B/ thereof can be interlocked with the socketwhen the handle is in use, but may be easily detached therefrom whendesired, suit-4 able interlocking parts are provided by which thehand-grip can be connected or disconnected by relative movement of theparts. As a preferred device for this purpose the socket C is providedwith an Lshaped groove, a part c of which is parallel with the open edgeofthe socket, and another part c of which extends fromone end of thesegmental groove C to the outer or lower edge of the socket. The pin Bis provided with a stud b, adapted to enter the grooves c c and toengage the segmental part c of the groove when the pin is inserted fullywithin the socket. This device constitutes what is known as abayonet-joint, the parts being interlocked by .thrusting the pin B intothe socket until the stud h passes through the vertical groove c andthen turning or rotating the hand-grip, so as to carry the pin into thehorizontal part c in said groove.

The hand-grip is made flat at its sides and of curved form at itsforward and rear edges to better adapt it to be grasped by the hand andto give a better hold thereon. In' order to facilitate the interlockingof the hand-grip with the socket of the casket, the stud b andinterlocking groove are so located that when the said stud isinterlocked with the hori zontal part of the groove the concave part ofthe handle will face inwardly or forwardly. The segmental part of thegroove is, moreover, arranged to extend through a quarter of a circle,so that the handle can be inserted only when one of its flat sides istoward the end of the casket, this construction aording a guide by whichthe person using the handgrip will be certain of placing it in the rightposition for insertion, and it may be readily turned into the rightposition for removal after it has been used.

The socket C, when made of cylindric forni IOO as'described, may beroughened on its outer face by ribs, screw-threads, or otherwise,` so asto give'it a secure hold on the wood when driven or inserted into thebottom of the casket. As herein shown, the socket is provided withexterior vertical flanges c?, intended to prevent rotation thereof andto hold it firmly in place.

Detachable hand-grips, made as described, may be located at any suitableplaces upon the coffin or casketiand at either one orboth ends of thesame." Ordinarily theyvwill be needed only at one end of the casket,this being the heavier or head end thereof. They may be placed at agreater or less distance from the end and at such distance from'thesides as may be found convenient. These l1and;grips are intended moreparticularly for the use of the undertaker or his assistant in carryinga casket through doorways or down stairways or in other positions wherethe pall-.bearers are unable to sustain the casket by the use of theusual side handles, it being the practice under such circumstances forthe undertaker and his assistant to place themselves at thehead and footof the casket and carry the same Without aid from the pallbearers. ofthe detachable hand-,grips in carrying a casket down a stairway. In thisinstance the head end of the casket, which is uppermost, is providedwith the hand-grips, which are grasped by a person who is in the moreele,- vated position, this position or location of the hand-grips givinga firm hold on the casket and enabling him to effectively support thesame notwithstanding its inclined position. The foot end of the casketis shown assupported by the hands of another person in the usual manner,this being the lighter end and the one which is carried foremost indescending stairways. While the hand-grips are not usually necessary atthe said foot or 'lower does not tend to pull the casket downward orFig. 1 illustrates the employment away from the person supporting it, asin the caseof the upper or headend, yet similar handle-grips may be usedat such lower end with advantage when desired.

While I have shown the sockets for connecting the handle-*grips aslocated in the bottom wall of the casket, yet they may be located in theside wall or at any other convenient points. I prefer, however, tolocate them in the bottom wall near the end of the casket, because inthis position they are out of sight, they do not affect the appearanceor finish of the casket, and atthe same time are in such position as tobe convenient for the hand of the bearer, and are so located as totached from the socket by the partial rotation of the same within thesocket.

2. A casket-carrier comprising a grip provided at one end with arigidlyattached cylindric pin and a cylindric socket consisting `of asingle piece of metal adapted for insertion in the Wall of the socketand. provided with a cylindric recess in which the said pin fits andturns, said pin being provided with a stud and the socket with anL-shaped'groove for engagement With the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, lthis 29th day of August, A. D.1898.

ANDREW KIRCIIER.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, R. CUTHBERT VIvIAN.

